2026 Lexus ES350e power in ECO mode
I’ve been driving my new 2026 Lexus ES 350e for a few days now, and one thing that has really surprised me is just how much power and pickup it has—even in Eco mode.
I expected Eco mode to make the car feel noticeably sluggish, especially when accelerating from a stop or picking up speed to merge into traffic. That hasn’t been my experience at all. The response is immediate, smooth, and plenty strong. Even when I’m already moving and give it more accelerator, there’s power available right away.
In fact, for normal everyday driving, I’m finding very little reason to take it out of Eco mode. It still feels quick and responsive, but I get the benefit of driving a little more efficiently.
Coming from a Lexus ES 300h, the instant response of the electric drivetrain is probably what I’m noticing most. There’s no waiting for the engine or transmission to figure out what you want—it just goes.
I’m curious what other ES 350e owners think. Are you finding Eco mode has more than enough power for everyday driving too?